Blackstone-Millville committee outlines COVID protocols for Washington, D.C., trip; parents raise concerns

School officials at the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District’s Nov. 18 school committee meeting described proposed COVID-19 safety protocols for a planned eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C., and heard concerns from parents about a vaccination requirement.

Trip organizers said the district’s proposal would require participating students to be fully vaccinated, with the second dose completed by May 22, and that families who do not provide vaccination documentation would need to show a negative PCR test within 72 hours or a rapid test within 24 hours before departure. The plan also calls for masking on buses and inside venues, and isolation procedures and a district-secured transport option if a student tests positive while on the trip.

"The requirement of any student participating would be fully vaccinated, which must receive their second dose by May 22," said Tony, the staff member who presented the trip protocols. He added that organizers would require negative tests for students without vaccination documentation and that the district would secure additional hotel rooms and a staff member to supervise any isolated student.

School health staff reported current district COVID data to the committee: "We have approximately 378 vaccinated students, which works out to be 46.4 percent," said Karen, the district health official, noting that vaccination reporting remains a work in progress and that the district had conducted a vaccine clinic and was seeking a follow-up date.

Parents and several committee members said a hard vaccination cutoff would exclude many students and risk creating a two-tier outcome for eighth graders. One parent, speaking during discussion, said the vaccination requirement would prevent some children from attending despite negative tests and voiced disappointment at the potential separation of students; that comment came amid broader concerns about fairness and parental agency.

Committee members and staff described logistical constraints tied to tour-company deadlines: the organizer said a nonrefundable deposit is due around Dec. 15 and that pricing is based on one bus per 40 students, with additional buses increasing costs. The presenter said about 57 students were already documented as vaccinated and that survey responses showed substantial interest, but final enrollment remained uncertain.

The committee did not take a final vote on the trip protocols at the Nov. 18 meeting; the matter was presented for discussion and to solicit feedback. Staff said they would continue to work with the town nurse, the board of health and families on safety measures and that the proposal could change if state or federal guidance evolves.

Next steps: staff will continue outreach to families, refine documentation and timeline details, and return to the committee with updated enrollment and logistics information before any final approval or deposit deadlines.